Monash University Handbook 2010 Undergraduate - Course

This course is intended for students who have completed a Diploma of Community Services (Children's Services) or an equivalent and who wish to develop advanced skills and experience in teaching in early childhood education. It is especially suitable for those wishing to upgrade their qualifications to a teaching degree suitable for prior-to-school settings.

The broad objective of this course is to provide early childhood educators with the additional skills and understandings necessary to teach across a range of early childhood education settings, including kindergarten. It is expected that students will develop:

• a deeper understanding of child development, learning theories and early childhood pedagogy
• further understandings about early childhood curriculum development in literacy, numeracy, science, technology, music, visual arts and expressive arts
• the ability to critically reflect upon contemporary issues in early childhood education, family studies, and research
• an appreciation of the cultural contexts of early childhood settings and the diversity of children and families who experience these contexts
• a broad foundation of professional practice, to undertake effectively the role of early childhood educator.

Students must complete teaching practice which consists of a minimum of 80 days of satisfactory supervised early childhood education experience. Those who are employed in early childhood settings must complete a minimum of 40 days of supervised fieldwork in a setting other than the one in which they are employed. Students must be available to undertake fieldwork placements full time.

Graduates will be eligible for appointment as kindergarten teachers in pre-schools or childcare centres in Victoria. For interstate and overseas positions, applicants are advised to check with local authorities.

The course consists of 16 units, which are linked with four professional experience rounds arranged throughout the course. Students will be in early childhood settings for a total of up to 80 days. Candidates must satisfactorily complete each of the 16 units of study and receive a satisfactory teaching assessment to be eligible for the award.

First year

• Credit granted for prior studies equivalent to 48 points

Second year

• EDF1307 Early literacy and numeracy 1
• EDF1321 ECE: Movement, environment and community
• EDF1322 ECE: Science and technology
• EDF1324 ECE: Creative arts
• EDF3321 Assessment in the ECE curriculum
• EDF3322 Inquiry in professional practice: Infants and toddlers (20 days professional placement)*
• EDF3323 Inquiry in professional practice: Child care (20 days professional placement)*
• EDF3324 Contexts for child development: The developing child

Third year

• EDF4321 Health and wellbeing in early childhood settings
• EDF4322 Issues in child development
• EDF4323 Leadership and management in ECE
• EDF4324 Professional engagement: Entering the ECE profession
• EDF4701 Fieldwork placement 1 (20 days professional placement)*
• EDF4702 Fieldwork placement 2 (20 days professional placement)*
• EDF4327 Practice informing research
• EDF4328 Play and pedagogy

* Applicants with significant work history in the field would be eligible to apply for up to a further six months of advanced standing based on recognition of prior learning (RPL) for this experience and would not be required to complete these units.

Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies